USAID Khutlo Activity through its implementing partners, Lesotho Planned Parenthood Association, Seinoli Legal Center and the People’s Matrix held consultative dialogues with forty-one area chiefs and seventeen faith/spiritual and traditional healers of Semonkong, on the 3rd of May 2024. At this dialogue, representative of Lesotho Mounted Police and St. Leonard Health Centre were present.
One of the USAID Khutlo objectives focuses on enabling a better understanding of the magnitude, barriers, and facilitators for violence against LGBTQI+ people, particularly in engaging traditional leaders and healers, faith leaders, civil society organizations and government stakeholders.
According to African Technology Policy Studies, Africans have relied on traditional medicine since time immemorial, and traditional or spiritual healing still has a significant influence on Basotho norms and practices especially in rural settings. Semonkong is a small rural town located in the south-western part of the Maseru district of Lesotho, with about 100km from the town of Maseru.
“I had to stand firm and put my child first. This is not an ailment that can be cured, LGBTQI+ people need our support!”
Mrs G*, Traditional leader and spiritual healer from Semonkong
Participants acknowledged binary notion of sex and gender is not accurate reflection but for the longest time dialogue around this issue has been tabooed and been considered morally defiant.
During the dialogues, Mrs G*, a middle-aged traditional leader and spiritual healer, who travelled for almost 2 hours on horseback to the dialogue shared her personal experience of raising a child , who is now 21 years old, assigned male at birth but identifies as a woman.
Mrs G* related to how her husband took their child to the tradition initiation school “lobollo”, which is a rite of passage institution for male children, with the hope that he would finally have the “masculinity” developed the son he longed for. With the realization that the child’s gender identity remained the same, Mrs G* narrated that she took it upon herself to take a stand and explain to her husband that the lack of support would lead to their child either committing suicide or absconding from home.
She concluded by explaining that this was a tough journey that took an emotional toll on her family, in particular because of her role in the community as a spiritual and traditional leader.
This willingness of Mrs. G* to share such a personal story in front of 58 other traditional leaders was a display a positive start to unlearning negative cultural norms and stereotypes against the LGBTQI+ community in the rural areas of Lesotho. This incident once again showed the power of dialogue and creating a safe space how harmful norms and beliefs can be transformed. Overall, the traditional leaders acknowledged USAID Khutlo Activity for the intervention which “capacitated them to protect and promote the rights of all, thus building a more inclusive community”
*Quoted speakers purposefully anonymous as requested.
During a dialogue session on Gender based violence and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex, LGBTQI+ rights with Lesotho’s Parliament, a member of Parliament stated, “My own daughter is Lesbian. Whether our laws agree with it or not, this is a situation I must deal with in my own house. My fellow parliamentarians, we must accept this as a reality and address it….”
The MP’s statement, offered during a dialogue session facilitated by the USAID Lesotho Khutlo Activity, reflects the reality that LGBTQI+ communities face as a part of Lesotho’s rich social fabric. The Khutlo Activity is a unique program in Lesotho, advocating for the rights of LGBTQI+ people and addressing gender-based violence (GBV) that impacts LGBTQI+ people and cisgendered heterosexual women and girls, implemented in three districts: Leribe, Maseru, and Mokhotlong.
From the start, the Khutlo Activity has prioritized partnerships with traditional and religious leaders and government stakeholders. Traditional leaders, such as the Principal Chiefs, sit at the apex of Lesotho’s cultural custodians and serve as members of the Senate, one of Lesotho’s two houses of Parliament. They also hold jurisdiction over the Area Chiefs who have direct engagement with communities across the country. The Chiefs not only contribute to shaping the national legislative environment and lead traditional governance practices, but also are partners for change, including improving the awareness of LGBTQI+ people and their needs for GBV protection and services.
By building trust with government, traditional, and religious leaders through dialogue about the harmful effects of discrimination, stigma, and social norms that perpetuate GBV, the Khutlo Activity seeks to create a durable process for supporting the human rights of all people in Lesotho and reducing GBV, particularly for vulnerable populations.
During an introductory dialogue session by invitation at the Senate, the Khutlo Activity was introduced prompting an initial conversation about the key issues the Khutlo Activity seeks to address and winning buy-in from the Chiefs, which is essential for continuing dialogue sessions with community members across the country. In this initial meeting with the Senators and Members of Parliament from the Gender and Nutrition Committee as well as the Social Cluster, when discussing LGBTQI+ rights and GBV considerations, the Senators welcomed the notion of open and candid discussions on the social complexities that Khutlo Activity would have address when it went into the communities to implement the Activity.
Cascading from this initial discussion, the Khutlo Activity held further dialogue sessions with Parliament to deepen the discussion of LGBTQI+ rights and began organizing discussions with Area Chiefs in Khutlo’s target districts. During these discussions, participants shared personal stories of how LGBTQI+ issues have impacted their own families and the information that they are seeking as community leaders to understand the dynamics around LGBTQI+ individuals and families better.
“My own daughter – in – law decided to leave her marriage and live with another woman. I am not sure how to handle this as both her father-in-law as well as a Chief. Where can we get guidance to better understand such dynamics?” Local Chief in the Maseru District.
This acceptance for dialogues is a positive outcome for the Khutlo Activity in advancing addressing some of the drivers of GBV as well as addressing the barriers to greater LGBTQI+ acceptance at community level. But it also begins the process of building a foundation advanced by Lesotho’s leaders of spaces to hold open discussions about LGBTQI+ rights and GBV in contexts, and to leave no one in Lesotho behind.
*Quoted speakers purposefully anonymous as requested.
Sonke would like to express its gratitude for the funding support from Norad – the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation – in this edition’s Donor Corner. Norad is a professional body under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), working towards achieving the UN’s sustainability goals globally. The agency provided funding for Sonke’s work within the Women’s rights and Gender Equality budget chapter as a steadfast contributor to Sonke’s achievements, supporting Sonke for over ten years. Sonke’s partnership with Norad has been fundamental in the promotion and protection of sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), which Sonke sees as essential for achieving gender equality, and a precondition for sustainable development and social justice. Initially, Norad supported Sonke’s 2013-2016 “Engaging men and boys in enhancing SRHR” project and continued as funder for the 2017-2021 “Rights, Action and Accountability” project.
Through this support Sonke has been able to capacitate MenEngage member organizations and emerging leaders to strengthen national, regional and global networks that can enhance men’s involvement in preventing gender based violence, improving SRHR, and advancing gender equality. This funding has also been instrumental in promoting and strengthening SRHR advocacy through the documentation and dissemination of creative advocacy strategies that aim to increase men’s support for SRHR, engage religious leaders and faith-based organisations to increase their proactive support for gender equality, SRHR and LGBTQI+ rights, and engage men as involved, non-violent fathers and caregivers. These efforts culminated in the “SRHR Advocacy Toolkit for Young People”, created to assist MEA Youth to design, develop and implement SRHR advocacy strategies and which recognised the vital power of youth in creating change.
Through this work Sonke and the MenEngage Alliance have garnered international attention and recognition for their interventions and expertise in working with men and boys to address gender, sexuality and violence issues, resulting in the recognition of Sonke and the MenEngage Alliance as active global advocacy stakeholders contributing to the development and implementation of policies and programmes that increase the scale, impact and sustainability of work with men and boys.
Sonke’s gains in advancing SRHR will be further strengthened through the continued support of Norad in the form of core support for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights efforts for the 2023-2027 period. This work is organised under the MEA regional SRHR strategy 2023 -2027, which aims to achieve universal access to comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, through the pursuit of three outcome areas: Women, girls, adolescents, and young people claim rights to bodily autonomy and drive changes in social and gender norms, together with their families and communities; Health and education systems provide knowledge about and access to comprehensive SRHR services; Laws and policies ensuring SRHR promoted and adopted by authorities. These outcomes are being actualised by implementing countries Uganda, Ethiopia and Malawi where Sonke is providing support and guidance to youth on the development and implementation of creative evidence-based advocacy strategies that will strengthen their ability to conduct advocacy around laws and policies that promote gender equality and access to SRHR, including safe abortion and CSE. This is being done through country-level policy scans and monitoring of the policy environment, as well as through the development and dissemination of information booklets that provide youth with knowledge on SRHR, CSE, SGBV and safe abortion. Through these activities Sonke intends to contribute to the creation of an inclusive SRHR policy environment for young people, while increasing their agency to collectively speak up for their rights as they examine and question social norms, policies, and systems.
The long-standing partnership between Sonke and Norad is essential in promoting social-structural change and ensuring national stakeholders are held accountable for the implementation of inclusive SRHR policies, thereby enabling young people to make decisions concerning their bodies and helping to forge a world in which they can live free from violence and abuse.
The MenEngage Africa and Women International League for Peace and freedom training institute dubbed #MATI2024 On ‘Peace and Security,’ is taking place from 1st to 31st July virtually and from the 12 to 16th August onsite in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants of this training are members of MenEngage Africa and members of Women International League for Peace and Freedom. This training will have a total of 24 participants with fifty percent of the placement reserved for young people under the age of 32, and women.
In partnership with Gender Equality Studies and Training Program of the University of Iceland, the online session will require three hours per week of self-paced learning during which participants will be grounded on the concepts of Gender, Peace and Security, and submit assignments on a weekly basis, thereby fostering a participatory learning approach and self-reflection. The completion of the online course and its assignments is a prerequisite for participation in the in-person component of the course. In case a participant faces challenges in accessing the courses or submitting exercises, the organisers will discuss their case on an individual basis to decide on their in-person participation.
MenEngage Africa Training Institute will introduce participants to thematic around conflict, gender and peacebuilding, the international human rights frameworks to advance the Women Peace and Security agenda, the links between structural drivers of violence and militarised masculinities, the role of male allies in achieving feminist peace, and the opportunities for joint advocacy for feminist peace in Africa. MATI 2024 will pay attention to several regional commitments that offer leverage for change, helping participants to understand and use the AU’s Silencing the Gun Campaign, the AU’s Declaration on Positive Masculinities, UNSCR 1325 National Action Plans across the region, and the commitments many AU member states have made to implement these Human Rights Council Resolution 35-10.
Mati 2024 will be structured as follows:
Introduction to key concepts
The gendered dimensions of war, conflict and violence: personal connections and key concepts
The gendered dimensions of conflict and WPS & root causes
Root causes and structural drivers of conflict and violence and the peace and security situation in the region
WPS agenda and peace processes, including challenges to their implementation
Understanding and using international human rights frameworks to advance the WPS agenda
International and regional mechanisms and commitments for advancing the WPS agenda
Planning joint advocacy to advance the WPS agenda in Africa
Men, masculinities, peace
Conclusions and next steps
By the end of this training, participants will be expected to mainstream the lessons into their programming and community intervention activities, as well as become more intentional in working with men and boys as allies of feminist peace.
From April the 22nd to the 26th, the Generation Gender South Africa coalition, consisting of organizations such as Sonke Gender Justice, Action Aid South Africa, and Active! Change Drivers led various capacity strengthening workshops for youth in the KwaZulu Natal. The training’s objectives were to capacitate the civil society organizations and Generation Gender champions on social audits and equip them on how to make meaningful submissions and contributions on their municipal Integrated Development Plans with respect to addressing community and youth needs.
Over four days, the team conducted the social audit and Integrated Development Plan engagements. The first day revolved around strengthening the participants’ understanding of the social audit process, its purpose, and how it unravels. In the coming days, the training went on to engage its audience on how to be involved in the IDP process, how to make oral and written submissions to address needs and gaps within the framework and the significance of the youth’s participation in the IDP process. This training had evident connections to the actual social audit take-off that encompassed a two-day engagement with the local community where the participants conducted the audit. During the training, young people identified the issues affecting the lives of young people in all diversities.
Key highlights of the training included stakeholder mapping. This was aimed at skilling up young people and different actors in their communities to engage when they need to address issues of service delivery, ending gender-based violence, and keeping young people at the forefront of addressing these social issues. Young people are faced with many challenges such intimidation and dismissal when engaging community leaders, making it difficult to have their voices heard and their concerns addressed.
“It is without a doubt that equipping young people to meaningfully engage and hold duty bearers accountable to their promises on the fulfillment of the rights of the community is an ideal approach to ensuring sustainable change”, says Diana Macauley, RPN Co-Unit Manager at Sonke Gender Justice.
“These social audits and the IDP process have provided a platform for young people to meaningfully participate and represent driving change towards the prevention of gender-based violence and promoting social and gender justice. Witnessing this powerful process enlightened me to the passion that young people have, and how we need to support them to positively channel this, through the power of their voices towards social Justice”, Macauley concludes.
The three days of capacity strengthening workshop conducted by Generation Gender in Ntuzuma, KwaZulu natal was followed by a community dialogue in Inanda, KwaZulu Natal on the 24th of April 2024. The dialogue started in a true south African style, with a song of celebration, hope and solidarity. The atmosphere was electric as the melody was infectious, with all participants singing along and feeling the positive energy that filled the air.
Young people from Inanda and surrounding communities participated in the capacity-building program, and they were the driving force behind the community dialogue. They had gained valuable insights into gender issues and were eager to share their newfound knowledge with others in their community.
The primary objective of the community dialogue was to raise awareness on GBV and empower youth leaders to actively participate in combating it by equipping them with knowledge and skills. It also aimed to encourage a culture of accountability and responsibility among young people when it comes to addressing GBV, as well as encourage innovative solutions and youth-led initiatives to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, and create inclusive avenues for dialogue, education, and collaboration to address multiple types of discrimination and inequality.
Gender-based violence remains a pervasive social concern in South Africa, affecting individuals across age, gender, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Despite various interventions and efforts to combat the scourge of GBV in South Africa, its prevalence persists, necessitating innovative and sustainable approaches.
“Please bring your open mind and ideas to the table so that we can learn from each other,” said Rammolotsi Sothoane, Special Projects Manager at Activate! Change Drivers, as he warmly welcomed the youth to the dialogue and encouraged them to take up space to discuss issues that affect them and to brainstorm possible solutions.
South Africa has the highest unemployment rate among youth, and it was identified during the dialogue that unemployment is also a proponent of gender-based violence. Sayouth.mobi, which is a platform for young people free access to online work-seeker support resources was also present at the dialogue. The platform offers preparation for the world of work, leadership, volunteering, wellness and self-care support resources.
As the day ended, there was a sense of optimism and hope that the community dialogue had created a platform for change. The community dialogue was a testament to the power of collective action and the importance of creating spaces for dialogue and engagement on critical issues affecting communities. Moving forward, Generation Gender South Africa has planned a series of these engagements in Gauteng and Eastern Cape provinces.
Sonke Gender Justice in partnership with donor Kindernothilfe, KNH launched the Promotion of children: SRHR, advocacy and youth participation project in Butterworth, Eastern Cape on the 14th of May 2024. The purpose of the launch was to communicate its kick-off to its strategic partners, stakeholders, and communities and to strengthen project buy-in and ownership by the key stakeholders.
The project seeks to strengthen the rights of children and youth by protection against sexual and gender-based violence and promoting advocacy in Eastern Cape communities. “We are happy with this partnership and are looking forward to its implementation throughout the 3 year period. One of our requirements for a partner to get funding is that an organisation must be upholding children’s rights and that there must be inclusive and meaningful participation of all stakeholders within projects, and Sonke was able to meet that criteria.” said Kindernothilfe’s Phillip Mokoena.
The project will be implemented in the Nelson Mandela Bay Metropolitan Municipality in Zwide and Motherwell communities as well as in the Amathole District in the communities of Mbashe and Mnquma.
AmaXhosa Kingdom Spokesperson Chief Ndabele Mtoto who was part of the feasibility study of the project urged Sonke management to engage with King Vulikhaya- Ahlangene Sigcawu to endorse the project. ‘’ Sonke must solicit the King’s buy in, given that all chiefs and community leaders will be compelled to attend the training on capacity building on gender based violence and femicide, this will also ensure that we fully support this project’’.
Through its implementation, adolescents and youth will be able to advocate for gender justice and meaningfully participate in decision-making spaces from local to national level. Caregivers and religious leaders will also be enabled to advocate against harmful religious, traditional, and social gender norms and practices.
Motshidisi Ramadi, Sonke’s Programmes Director says young people will be actively involved ‘’ We want to see the youth of these areas being involved in the prevention of gender based violence, informing policies and advocacy work that we will be doing, they are not just going to be beneficiaries or program participants then it ends there, as we seek to realise meaningful participation and not tokenism’’.
‘’The co-creation of this project proposal was a consultative and informed process which included representation of various stakeholders from the communities that the project will be implemented at, such as young people and community leaders. We encourage everyone here today to be our mouthpiece and support the project moving forward. Gender based violence is everyone’s concern and we need to all hold hands together and fight it‘’ Ramadi adds.
Speaking on behalf of the Department of Social Development, Nkosi Mankayi, said the government alone does not have the capacity to fight gender based violence, it needs a multisectoral approach, as such the department prioritises partnering with NGOs to be able to accelerate intervention programs. ‘’Sonke is one of the key partners of the department, we have recently rolled out a parenting programme Mencare 50/50, and today we are here witnessing the kick off of the youth and child led gender based violence prevention and advocacy project in the two municipalities, we are ready to support the work as it complements our mandate. ‘’.
The Eastern Cape province is known for having the highest gender based violence rate in the country at double the national rate, and children are a large proportion of these cases. Efforts to engage youth and children in the province currently exist, but it remains uncertain to what extent they result in participation in policymaking.
During the launch pupils from the Nondwe Senior Secondary and Ndabankulu High school whose ages range from 15 to 17 years, shared what they believed were challenges facing the current generation of youth and what they thoughts solutions to those challenges were. They indicated the challenges to be unemployment, bullying, teenage pregnancies, peer pressure, alcohol and substance abuse among others. The learners recommended that the government increase the age limit of the legal age for alcohol consumption and entry to nightclubs in South Africa from 18 years to 21 years, as they believe by 18 years one is not fully mature to make informed decisions.
They also recommended a child support voucher instead of the current grant for unemployed mothers, as they said this could minimise the irresponsible use of social grants, as well as calling upon traditional leaders to end village boys feuds that often lead to high rate of murders in Eastern Cape communities.
The newly launched project, is expected to realise the project outcome as follows: “Enabled environment for adolescents and youth to influence gender responsive policy implementation in the Eastern Cape Province.”.
Sonke Gender Justice, supported by civil society organisations and community members from Nyanga and Gugulethu townships, took to the streets in a demonstration outside the Cape Town High Court on the 10th of May 2024, to submit a memorandum to the Chief Prosecutor, as an expression of the disappointment, frustration, and concern with respect to the handling of cases of gender-based violence and femicide in the province. In this instance, the focus was on the matter of Ziyanda Ndabeni, a 22 year old female resident of Nyanga township, who was raped and brutally stabbed to death with her body dumped in Hazendaal Park, Phillipi in 2016. Since the accused was arrested and formally charged before court in 2020, the case has suffered a series of postponements, reasons for which are not quite clear to the concerned members of the community.
‘’More than two hundred people attended the gathering from various organisations, including Baphi Abafazi, People’s Health Movement and Klipfontein Heath Forum and many others, the participants were engaged and it was a robust demonstration, it was indeed successful as we were able to hand over the memorandum to the duty bearers’ ‘said Sikhangele Mabulu, Wellness Centre Coordinator.
Young and full of life, Ziyanda Ndabeni left her home in Nyanga township having informed those she lived with that she was going to retail store Shoprite, little did she know that she would never make it back home. Her family together with the community launched a search party, only to find her mutilated body in Phillipi.
The victim’s family was also attended the demonstration by Sonke, and this is what her sister Thandiwe Ndabeni had to say ‘’ As the Ndabeni family we want to appreciate Sonke Gender Justice for this initiative, and encourage you continue fighting for other families who cannot stand up for themselves, be the voice for the voiceless. Without you we wouldn’t be where we are now in terms of pushing for justice for our daughter, although some South African Police Services members have not been cooperative, some are doing their best to assist with this case’’.
With this picket, Sonke demanded a comprehensive update on the status of this case providing clarity on reasons for postponements, an intervention by the Chief Prosecutor of Cape Town to ensure that there are no further delays by the State and clarification on the action that shall be taken by the National Prosecuting Authority towards the swift and efficient finalisation of this matter.
On December 12th, 2023, under the joint auspices of MenEngage Africa and the Sonke Gender Justice to acknowledge the tireless efforts of journalists who report on transformative gender work remarkably. It marked both the vivacious life and media expertise of Khopotso Bodibe, a former widely respected media specialist at Sonke whose remarkable contribution helped train and transform generations of journalists to respect human rights’ and report transformative on gender-related issues. We had the privilege to question the first-place awardee, Suzgo Chitete. Suzgo Chitete is an award-winning Investigative Journalist with over 15 years’ experience in both broadcast and print media.
He is currently working as an Assistant Bureau Chief (Lilongwe) for privately owned – Nation Publications Limited (NPL). Previously he has worked as a senior reporter for Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and as a field producer, correspondent and fixer for Al Jazeera, BBC and China Global Television Network.
Suzgo is also a media trainer under the MISA Malawi Training Centre. He is a passionate writer about public finance management, democratic governance and human rights including women empowerment.
Congratulations on winning the 1st place winner at the Inaugural MenEngage Africa award, how does it feel?
It really feels good. It’s a personal commitment to be part of the movement that is working to change the gender narrative. These stories are a product of this commitment. I feel duty bound to make this contribution. It’s a huge incentive to get recognition/award for this contribution. This challenges me to do more.
What impact do you think such an accolade will have on your career?
It means a lot. It is a push factor for me. Look, this was a regional competition and to scoop the first position means a lot; that our journalism is competitive and also our work is getting the attention of the world. I guess it does not just end with me getting the prize but also that issues raised in the articles have the attention of stakeholders who matter. We do not just have to be proud as a publication that we have scooped the first position, but it means that we have to find creative means of sustaining the momentum to tell a much better story than we have done before.
The premise of the award ceremony was to acknowledge the work that Journalists are doing to achieve gender equality. Why is it important to use gender transformative approaches in your reporting?
This helps to change the narrative and inculcate a positive mentality among our audience. There are things we have considered normal in our societies that have led to the gender gap or imbalance in terms of opportunities, where males have ended up wielding too much power. This therefore calls for sensitivity or awareness when reporting gender issues so that no gender is disadvantaged. It also helps for media houses and individual journalists to have a deliberate approach which empowers both genders.
What are some of the challenges you face as a journalist reporting on advocacy issues in your country and how do you overcome them?
One of the issues is that there are not many women news sources due to power imbalance and therefore one needs patience to develop some. Women are naturally guarded and therefore may not be so willing to grant interviews or provide information hence there is need for strategic engagement to build trust. It is these women’s voices which will motivate others to equally open up. Due to tight deadlines, we have rushed to easy-to-get sources who are mostly males. This calls for editorial policies that are deliberately designed to promote gender and our publication is already doing this. We also have a significant number of females in decision-making positions which has also helped to easily promote a balanced narrative.
Tell us about how your reporting, based on gender transformative approach, has influenced advocacy work in your community.
It has in many ways. Some of our stories have led to community participation; demanding action from duty bearers but also influenced policy. I have in mind stories about women not allowed to own land in some parts, this has influenced national dialogue which may potentially impact policy.
There is also an anti-rights movement on the rise. How do you stay true to the principles of journalism?
Of course, I am also a member of MenEngage Alliance Malawi/ Gender Equality Now which is a strong support system in reporting gender issues. We have endured name calling simply because we have published stories that sometimes have not gone well with some members of society such as termination of pregnancy and issues to do with sexual minority rights. We cannot stop writing on account of journalism.
How do you collaborate with CSOs in your community tell their stories
Being a member of relevant bodies such as Men Engage Alliance this connects me to a wider community of relevant stakeholders. I have also, through this, developed a long source list. These are source of information; both in sharing tips and commentary
What would you like other journalists to learn or adopt going forward with regards to working reporting issues such as GBV and SHRHR?
I would say the fact that issues of GBV and SHRHR are obvious and common shouldn’t stop us from reporting about them. Gender based violence, for example, is rampant and has been reported on. It’s easy to dismiss such stories for familiarity breeds contempt. But I would say we must not tire of reporting about gender injustices. We must think about these stories from multiple perspectives; it has a bearing on the economy and national development. Malawi being a country with more females than males it only makes sense to have a level-playing field for both genders for purposes of national development. We must learn to contextualize these stories when reporting and in doing so these won’t be tired stories. Editors love stories captured within context and so are readers hence Journalists simply have to fully familiarize themselves with issues of gender to report with proper context which captures public interest.
What do you commit to do going forward?
I will remain an advocate for gender justice and will use my space to advance for change. Being a member of the Men Engage Alliance national chapter, I will ensure that we grow the number of Journalists involved in this chapter. I will use this award to encourage others to see value in reporting gender issues. This will be a motivation to others for it sends a strong message that our journalism is competitive. Resources permitting, I will also use my role as a media trainer to popularize gender issues to Journalists, especially community broadcasters. Community broadcasters can equally play a crucial role in changing the narrative since they are close to the people.
Rumbidzai Chidoori recently participated in the 68th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) in New York, representing Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa. Rumbi takes note of her experience and valuable knowledge she gained from her attendance of the forum from the 11th to the 22nd of March. In this reflection, she expands on her personal insights and important takeaways. Chidoori currently serves as the Regional Policy & Advocacy Coordinator at Sonke Gender Justice. She is a feminist and human rights activist with extensive experience in policy and advocacy work in the women’s rights sector at regional, national and international levels. She advocates for the implementation of legal instruments that protect women’s rights, actively engages in campaign work for vulnerable groups, and conducts rights education training for communities at local level. Chidoori has written several submissions on policy matters and has published various articles in various media including peer reviewed journals.
What was it like attending the conference in New York and what was your favourite experience or moment at CSW68?
As a feminist and as an advocate, having the opportunity to influence policy and language at that level is very fulfilling. CSW 68 is the premier global women’s rights policy space where women’s rights is set for all member countries, so I don’t take it lightly; being able to be in that space is a privilege. My favourite moments are being able to interact, network, and engage with various women’s rights activists from all over the world, being able to learn how to do advocacy in different ways, and learning how to engage duty-bearers.
Do you think the place is welcoming to all young people, in all their diversity?
I believe so. To a greater extent, young people can be part of the conversations, to influence, to be heard, and to use their agency, although I think more could be done in terms of enabling young people to be involved in the negotiations, which is a space in which even CSOs are not always given access.
Recently, there has been an upsurge in anti-rights movements and opposition. What are some of the measures that civil society may use to push back?
Part of the ways in which civil society can be able to push back with regard to opposition is to be better organised to mobilise better collectively, to ensure that we are present in the spaces where women’s rights are engaged and be able to push back, to expand the language and ensure that provisions that support and advance women’s SRHR rights are included in policy documents, and to ensured that duty bearers understand their duty or understand their responsibility and obligation to ensure that women’s access to SRHR is respected and promoted. It is also important to monitor these anti-rights movements and share information with other civil society organisations to ensure that they don’t get co-opted by these groups and to be able to call them out. Some of these actors like to operate in secrecy or behind the scenes, influencing our policymakers negatively. It is important to be transparent and accountable.
What lessons did you take from the CSW68
A key takeaway is the importance of working as a collective and the importance of being present in the space to stand guard against those that threaten to take back the gains that we’ve made over the years and being able to expand on those gains as well. We cannot wait 300 years for gender equality; we need to see gender equality in our lifetime.
How would the experience you’ve gained inform your advocacy work going forward?
As part of the women’s rights caucus working group On language and advocacy, I will definitely take the experience used in the negotiations of the agreed conclusions to influence policy development at the national level. It is key to remind policymakers of their obligations with respect to women’s rights.
In your opinion, what are difficulties faced by youth activists in this field?
I think firstly that being in the room CSW is not an easy space to access, especially when you think about getting visas and travelling to New York, which is very expensive. There’s not always adequate funds for young people to travel to New York. There are so many bottlenecks with regards to access to the space that once you are there, there is restricted access to the negotiation rooms with state parties.
What topics would you want to see more of at CSW?
I would like to see the expansion of SRHR and CSE, unpaid care, and the care economy, including positive parenting and respect for women’s bodily autonomy.
Please share any additional comments, thoughts, suggestions for the upcoming CSW68
I think the venue for CSW needs to change as well, or at least be rotated, so that CSW can also take place in different regions, like Africa, for instance. This is to enable activists, mainly from the global south, to also participate meaningfully in CSW.
A STUDY commissioned by Southern Africa Aids Dissemination Service (Safaids) and Sonke Gender Justice with the support of GIZ working with the Women Affairs ministry, UNAids and UN Women Zimbabwe, has revealed that women are more involved in unpaid care work than their male counterparts.
The Zimbabwe State of Father’s Report, aimed to enhance knowledge and create awareness on unpaid care work in homes and the community, shows that most unpaid care work is done by the fairer sex. “The care gap is particularly pronounced within the home, where mothers bear the brunt of care responsibilities, while fathers are often preoccupied with productive work or actively seeking it,” said Tafadzwa Hove from Anokha Consulting Firm which conducted the research. The report also shows that men and boys are frequently involved in tasks such as fetching firewood and water.
However, when it comes to other care-related responsibilities such as preparing food, cleaning the house, looking after children and accompanying a child to school — boys and men are less engaged.
A proportion of men ranging from 44% to 56% have never participated in these forms of care work.
“Our findings show that men engage in care work as a last resort especially when their spouse is seriously ill or away from home because of other commitments such as church activities or family events,” Hove said.
Women care for the sick, provide support within families, and actively participate in community gatherings, including funerals, weddings, church events and traditional rituals.
Additionally, women are more prominently involved in community development gatherings with non-governmental organisations, even when there is no direct financial gain.
Although men are present in some of the community work and family gatherings, they only provide secondary care and supervision rather than the primary care work, the research reads.
Safaids Zimbabwe programmes assistant, Clemio Magwenga said unpaid care work mostly impacts on women and girls because of the patriarchal nature of Zimbabwe’s society.
“The report will also be looking at how unpaid care work is contributing to gender-based violence including intimate partner violence which is more significant in our society, but it’s not recorded because most people don’t believe in intimate partner violence,” Magwenga said.
“We also want to look at gender equality from the report, so with these findings we are able to map the way forward in terms of creating gender equality opportunities. We want to create an environment where men and women have division of labour at home”.
It is hoped that the report will help in drafting recommendations that will help educate young boys and men in society to also take up unpaid care work.
The report will officially be launched on International Families Day on May 15, 2024.
The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW68) concluded its proceedings at the United Nations headquarters in New York on the 22nd of March 2024, after a two week-long session of intense discussions and deliberations. The event brought together representatives from all corners of the world, including government officials, civil society leaders, and advocates for women’s rights. This year the forum was held under the theme “Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective”.
Throughout the two weeks, delegates engaged in a range of activities, including high-level panels, interactive dialogues, and side events, all aimed at promoting women’s rights and gender equality. Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa hosted and participated in several side-events which were focused on ending violence against women and girls, promoting women’s economic empowerment, access to Sexual Reproductive and Health Rights services, increasing women’s participation in decision-making, and ensuring access to quality education and healthcare. The discussions were lively and thought-provoking, with participants sharing their experiences and perspectives on the challenges and opportunities faced by women and girls in their respective countries and regions. Sonke Gender Justice and MenEngage Africa hosted and participated in the following sessions:
Parental leave and beyond: Care policies and informally employed workers
This event highlighted the viability and implications of care focused policies for formally and informally employed working parents in low and middle-income countries. Influenced by the advocacy of organizations like Sonke Gender Justice and RWAMREC. South Africa and Rwanda have recently improved their parental leave policies. Many workers in Africa are however employed in the informal economy. The State of the World’s Fathers report 2023 provides insights about parents, care and care policies across varied economies in 16 countries, and global findings from the World Policy Center highlights nuances of providing parental leave to workers in informal employment.
Accelerating Gender Equality in Fragile Settings: A Focus on Women and Girls
The event was aimed to tackle the urgent concerns pertaining to gender parity in humanitarian and precarious environments. With a specific focus on the challenges faced by women and girls, to foster dialogue, propose innovative solutions, and catalyse action towards achieving gender parity in these contexts.
Is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Real?’
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing concern nowadays. With the rise of technology, the use of social media and other digital platforms has become a common means of communication for people globally. However, along with the benefits of these technologies come the risks of being exposed to violence, especially gender-based violence. To confront this alarming trend head-on, ABAAD, Equimundo, Rutgers, and Sonke from the Generation G partnership organised an event during this year’s CSW titled ‘Is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Real?
Sonke Gender Justice and Power To Youth Partners share Good Practices at CSW68
Power To You(th) program’s participation at the Commission on the Status of Women 68 featured interactive sessions on community interventions in different countries to promote meaningful youth engagement and participation in gender transformation, gender-inclusive initiatives and human rights with focus on the rights of women and girls
Follow this link to learn more about the good practices shared at CSW68 by Sonke Gender Justice and Power To You(th) Partners.
CSW68 also provided an opportunity for Sonke Gender Justice, MenEngage Africa, and partners to share best practices and make several calls to action while also making commitments and pledges towards advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Now that this year’s CSW68 has ended, it leaves government, civil society organisations, corporations, and all other stakeholders with more work, and all stakeholders must step up their efforts towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls worldwide.
On March 14, 2024, Sonke Gender Justice, MenEngage Africa, the Government of Norway, and Reach Out NGO Cameroon collaboratively hosted a side event at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women 68 under the theme, “Accelerating Gender Equality in Fragile Settings: A Focus on Women and Girls.” The event aimed to address the crucial issue of gender equality in humanitarian and vulnerable settings.
The event featured a panel of experts from various fields who shared their knowledge and experiences on the topic. The panellists included representatives from international organisations, government officials, and civil society leaders, all of whom were committed to advancing gender equality in fragile settings.
In many fragile settings, women and girls face unique challenges that hinder their ability to achieve equality. These challenges include limited access to education and healthcare, increased risk of violence and exploitation, and lack of economic opportunities. The program sought to highlight these issues and propose new solutions to accelerate action to achieve gender equality in these circumstances.
Sonke Gender Justice’s Co-executive Director Bafana Khumalo and Her Excellency Ms. Lubna Jaffery, the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality discussed the urgent need to address gender inequality in fragile settings, emphasising the impact of crises on vulnerable groups such as women, girls, and marginalised communities. They stressed the importance of comprehensive sexual education, access to high-quality sexual and reproductive health services, and the engagement of boys and men in promoting gender equality.
“I know that many of us are pessimistic about what is happening in the world, but let me assure you, another world is possible. That world requires you and me to put your shoulder to the wheel and ensure that we put modalities that will ensure that women don’t have to ask. It is unacceptable that women in this age struggle to find sexual and reproductive health products and commodities when decisions are taken by rooms filled by men who have no clue about sexual and reproductive health and rights needs of women”, said Bafana Khumalo while giving his opening remarks. He further urged participants, particularly men who were in the room, to stand up and be counted “because women cannot afford another 100 years before there’s equality.”
Her Excellency Ms. Lubna Jaffery, the Norwegian Minister of Culture and Equality also shared commitments that were recently reaffirmed in the new action plan for women’s rights and gender equality in Norway’s foreign and development policy, and the government’s national action plan for women, peace and security. “We need to invest in comprehensive sexual education”, said while appreciating the importance of partnerships with civil society organisations.
The discussions went on to tackle the urgent need to address gender-based violence and promote women’s empowerment through education and economic opportunities. The panellists emphasised the importance of engaging men and boys for gender equality, as well as the need to develop policies that are inclusive of all genders.
The HIV/AIDS epidemic in fragile settings is a dire situation that has been exacerbated by gender inequity. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by the virus in regions that are experiencing instability and humanitarian disasters, such as conflict zones, refugee camps, and areas affected by natural disasters. Furthermore, women and girls in fragile settings are more likely to experience sexual violence and exploitation, which can lead to HIV infection. They may be forced into transactional sex to meet their basic needs or to escape violence, which puts them at increased risk of contracting the virus. The impact of HIV/AIDS on women and girls in fragile settings is devastating. They face social stigma, discrimination, and marginalisation, which further exacerbate their vulnerability to the virus. “HIV becomes an indicator for gender inequality in a context where we have high levels of HIV”, said, Anne Githuku-Shongwe, UNAIDS’s Director Regional Support Team for Eastern and Southern Africa
Due to instabilities women and girls are still faced with the challenge of access to sexual reproductive health rights, the forum emphasised the urgent need for investment in women’s organisations and the importance of keeping girls in school to mitigate the risk of teenage pregnancy and HIV infection. Additionally, the discussion addressed the prevalence of gender-based violence, child marriage, and the lack of support for women’s organizations in humanitarian settings, underscoring the need for increased attention and resources to address these critical issues.
The event concluded with a call to action for all stakeholders to work together to accelerate progress towards gender equality in fragile settings.
Equimundo and Sonke Gender Justice, in conjunction with RWAMREC and the World Policy Centre, organised a side event at the 68th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women on the 11th of March 2024. This event highlighted the viability and implications of care focused policies for formally and informally employed working parents in low and middle-income countries. Influenced by the advocacy of organizations like Sonke Gender Justice and RWAMREC, South Africa and Rwanda have recently improved their parental leave policies.
On a worldwide scale, women are responsible for over three times the amount of child-rearing and maintaining a household than men. This uneven division of daily tasks leaves no room for women to achieve true and total equality, or for children and men to benefit mentally or emotionally. To create an equitable, peaceful society, men must also do their fair share of caretaking. Further, many workers in Africa are employed in the informal economy, with no access to any social or legal protection. The State of the World’s Fathers Report 2023 provides insights about parents, care, and care policies across varied economies in 16 countries, and global findings from the World Policy Center highlight nuances of providing parental leave to workers in informal employment.
Jean-Marie Nkurunziza, Sonke Gender Justice’s MenCare Regional Programme Specialist shared his personal story regarding access to leave and parenting in the informal economy. He explained how he and his family were positively impacted by these benefits while Sonke provides a full month (30days) payee leave for fathers. Jean-Marie’s story is a powerful reminder of the importance of family-friendly policies in the workplace.
Unpaid care work is frequently overlooked and undervalued as a social contribution. Many people, particularly women, are expected to take on the role of caregiving without any support or recognition. This often places an undue load on women and girls and leaves them with insufficient time and finances to pursue other options, such as school.
Furthermore, the absence of acknowledgment and support for unpaid care work exacerbates gender disparities. Women are frequently expected to perform most caregiving duties, which can limit their ability to fully participate in the workforce and result in lower salaries and career options. The session covered a range of topics related to parental leave policies and gender equality initiatives. Rumbidzai Chidoori, Sonke Gender Justice’s Regional Policy and Advocacy Coordinator provided insights into a legal case in South Africa where a couple contested the existing parental leave policy, which was discriminatory in that it provided 4 months maternity leave days for women and only 10 days for men. In this particular case the father, Mr Van Wyk was the parent who was in a position to take up most of the caretaking for their child, argued that the inequality in providing maternity leave without a corresponding period of paternity leave causes an unjustified limitation on the rights of a father and places an unjustifiable burden on the mother to become the default care-giver. Under the new interim conditions as ruled by the High Court, new parents from a natural birth will be able to determine how the four months of parental leave is shared among themselves, while parents of surrogate children, and adoptive parents to children under the age of two will get to enjoy the same parental leave rights. This court’s ruling reflects a recognition of the evolving nature of families, including gender non-conforming and same-sex partners, and the diverse forms of parenting. The speakers emphasized the need for policies that align with the changing dynamics of modern families.
The State of the Fathers report in Rwanda, Tanzania, and South Africa as well as Uganda, highlights the need for policies to support individuals in the informal economy. The burden of unpaid care work must be lifted off women and girls’ shoulders if we are to achieve gender equality. The State of London Patterns Report was also presented, which demonstrated increasing support for paternity leave, with differences in how men and women perceive care and the utilization of paternity leave. The speakers emphasized the need for state-subsidized, high-quality childcare support to complement parental leave.
The covered global trends in paid parental leave policies emphasise that 96% of countries have adopted nationwide paid leave policies, with longer leave being more common for mothers. However, the speakers also discussed the disparity in leave policies for men, with only about a quarter of countries ensuring access to at least 14 weeks of leave, in line with the International Labour Organisation recommendation. The speakers emphasized the need for comprehensive and inclusive policies that address affordability, wage replacement rates, job protection, and prohibitions of caregiver discrimination.
The Generation Gender (GenG) programme has been conducting extensive research around the theme of TFGBV, which has resulted in a report titled Decoding Technology Facilitated Gender-Based Violence, a reality check from seven countries. This study, which will soon be made available to the public, offers a multi-country deep dive that aims at bridging the knowledge gaps that exist around TFGBV in different countries, including Lebanon, Morocco, Rwanda, South Africa, Indonesia, and many others
Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is a growing concern nowadays. With the rise of technology, the use of social media and other digital platforms has become a common means of communication for people all around the world. However, along with the benefits of these technologies come the risks of being exposed to violence, especially gender-based violence. To confront this alarming trend head-on, ABAAD, Equimundo, Rutgers, and Sonke from the Generation G partnership organised an event during this year’s CSW titled ‘Is Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence Real?
The use of technology has made it easier for perpetrators to commit gender-based violence. Social media platforms, for instance, have become a place where people can easily harass, stalk, or intimidate others, especially women and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
To kick off the session at CSW68, Nina Jane Patel, co-founder, and President of Research & Safety at Kabuni, started off with her insights and own personal experiences with the reality of online violence and challenged the notion that TFGBV isn’t real.
“I realized that I could not underestimate the power of this new technology in our lives. This experience was traumatic, it was violent, and it wasn’t real. Following the public account of my experience, the backlash I received, which included threats and insults, was also very real and very frightening”, Nina Jane Patel, shared during the session.
“We must actively work against the damage that is being done and build a more inclusive and safer online environment. Today, right now, this moment, it is our turn, you and me, to collaborate, to learn from each other, and to act”, she added.
The prevalence of technology-facilitated gender-based violence is alarming. Studies have shown that women and girls are at a higher risk of being targeted online than men. This type of violence can take many forms, including cyberstalking, revenge porn, and online harassment. Moreover, technology-facilitated gender-based violence can have devastating effects on the victim’s mental health, self-esteem, and overall well-being.
The side-event was also interactive and educational where participants responded to poll quizzes to check the understanding of TFGBV. The delegates also explored legislations that are already in existence in some countries in some spaces, but unfortunately gaps remain. It was noted that the reporting mechanisms have limited effectiveness since reporting is often a disadvantage for the survivors, so it’s underreported, and even when it is reported, unfortunately, follow-up actions are not taken. Abishiag (AbiAbishiag(Abi) Wabwire, project coordinator at the Uganda Association of Women Lawyers (FIDA-U), also shared that Uganda is one of the few countries in Africa that has a law that can be used to try and curb TFGBV, as the women and girls are facing in Uganda. It was enacted in 2010 and amended last year. Unfortunately, the spirit behind this amendment was not to protect women, men, or anybody who is suffering from TFGBV. ‘’Unfortunately, the spirit of this legislation was not to safeguard women, men, or anybody suffering from TFGBV. The law is more to protect political leaders from the backlash they are facing online, not the victims, ‘’ she said.
During the session, Abi shared some eye-opening examples of women and girls in Uganda who have been victims of TFGBV, or Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence. She highlighted how the legal system has failed these women, leaving them with little to no redressal.
Abi’s examples were both heart-wrenching and infuriating. She spoke of women who had faced online harassment, stalking, and even revenge porn. These women had approached the legal system for help, only to be met with apathy and a lack of understanding. The police, lawyers, and judges they turned to were often ill-equipped to deal with such cases. Some even dismissed the women’s complaints, and blamed them for taking half-naked pictures, although it was shared without their consent.
Abi’s discussion highlighted the systemic failures that perpetuate TFGBV. She emphasized the need for better legal frameworks and training for law enforcement officials. She also stressed the importance of creating safe spaces for women to speak out and seek help without fear of judgment or retaliation.
This side event underscored the urgent need for a more comprehensive and empathetic approach to tackling TFGBV. As a society, we must work towards creating a culture that values and protects the rights of women, both online and offline. Only then can we hope to eliminate the scourge of TFGBV and ensure that no woman is left to suffer in silence.
Sonke wants to express its gratitude for funding support from Irish Aid. Irish Aid is the Government of Ireland’s official international development aid programme, managed by the Development Co-operation and Africa Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Irish Aid and Sonke Gender collaborated on the Rights, Accountability and Action project in South Africa from 2018 to 2022, with an emphasis on enhancing local actors’ ability to direct, impact, and oversee the execution of GBV-responsive initiatives in Gauteng, the Eastern Cape, and the Western Cape provinces.
The goal of the five-year initiative was to strengthen the connections between media advocacy, rights literacy, community education and activism, and the application of the law to promote gender equality in South Africa. By creating engaged and empowered communities that can hold local and national duty-bearers accountable for the implementation of laws and policies, aimed at preventing and responding to gender-based violence and promoting gender equality.
Sonke, in collaboration with civil society, the media, and community actors, was able to achieve its intended impact of “contributing to the realisation of human rights and gender equality in South Africa,” according to an independent, endline evaluation of the project. The creation of GBV-desks intended to support targeted populations, such as the LGBTIQ+ and Gogo-desk in Johannesburg, and the allocation of resources in provincial or municipality budgets, specifically targeting GBV in all three sites were among the project’s major accomplishments. Multisectoral GBV forums were also established in all three provinces.
Sonke was a key player in the Total Shutdown demonstrations and the founding of the Call-to-Action civil society organisation, which helped shape and pass the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide (NSP GBVF) in 2019, thanks to its collaboration with Irish Aid. Irish Aid has continued their funding to Sonke from 2023 to 2025 with the goal of reducing gender-based violence in South Africa by empowering and energising local communities in the areas of gender equality and human rights. Their support builds on the previous fruitful collaboration between Sonke and Irish Aid on the Rights, Accountability and Action project in South Africa and this cooperation continues to enhance local actors’ ability to influence the execution of GBV-responsive programs in the provinces of the Eastern and Western Cape.
The project also involves holding duty-bearers accountable in enforcing GBV laws and policies, setting up multi sectoral GBV desks and forums, influencing state budget allocations that specifically target GBV in these locations, and using forceful civic actions to influence the implementation of the National Strategic Plan on Gender-Based Violence and Femicide. The long-standing partnership between Sonke and Irish Aid holds critical value for ensuring community-led accountability systems to track progress and mainstream the NSP GBVF objectives at local government that contribute to influencing structural changes within the frame of rights, action, and accountability.
Sonke is currently implementing the Transform Digital Spaces to Reflect Feminist Democratic Principles -Transform project, which is a partnership between the organisation, IREX and Makaia. The three-year global pilot initiative, is implemented in Georgia, Guatemala, and Kenya and aims to support practical approaches to prevent, mitigate, and respond to Technology-Facilitated Gender Based Violence.
The United Nations Population Fund defines TFGBV as ‘’an act of violence perpetrated by one or more individuals that is committed, assisted, aggravated and amplified by the use of information and communication technologies or digital media, against a person on the basis of their gender’’. This global phenomenon is experienced disproportionately by women, girls and LGBTQI+ individuals.
Key participants of the program include women in politics, women human rights defenders, women journalists, and women active in civil society or other areas of public life, as it focuses on addressing violence experienced by women in politics and public life. It also involves men and male-dominated organisations, especially in the technology sector, to address TFGBV.
‘’During the first quarter of 2024, the team revised the Gender Consciousness Module, which focuses on raising awareness on gender and social equity, discussing key concepts related to gender, and reflecting on the impact of TFGBV.’’ Said Fitiavana Miangaly Randriantseheno, Sonke’s Regional Senior Trainer.
‘’We also developed a Responsible and Ethical Data Practices Module, which looks at the importance of data privacy, protection of sensitive information, and responsible sharing of information. Sonke also developed a glossary of terms for all the modules to ensure consistency and clarity in terminology’’ she said.
Through this initiative, Transform will address the root causes of TFGBV, build participants’ resilience and strengthen institutions’ capacity and commitment to decreasing its prevalence. During the implementing period, the program will also empower local partners, including women’s rights organisations, civic tech groups and women’s public leadership associations.
‘’The efforts of Sonke and its partners reflect a comprehensive approach to tackling TFGBV, emphasising capacity building, awareness-raising, and the promotion of ethical practices in the digital domain. These activities are tailored to address the unique challenges and opportunities within the pilot countries, with the lessons learned intended to inform broader strategies against TFGBV globally. We will also include a number of stakeholders to foster a more inclusive, equitable, and safe digital space, particularly for women in politics and public life.’’ Randriantseheno concludes.
This year’s Commission on the Status of Women 68 featured Sonke Gender Justice and Power to Youth partners’ participation, through side events, at the UN headquarters in New York From the 11th – 22nd March 2024. The participation was aimed at sharing good practices of community interventions, creating linkages, learning and partnership opportunities at the global level and showcasing gender transformative approaches as a tool for promoting gender justice in communities.
Some of the niche areas were media as an advocacy tool for gender transformation in communities. Meaningful engagement of local leaders in promoting gender-inclusive initiatives like girls’ education and access to Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights and human rights services. Opportunities for youth-led and youth-focused feminist funding and success stories of working to end harmful practices against girls.
The most intriguing were the good practices shared by Power to Youth partners who are accelerating change in communities. Speaking at CSW68, Martha Kavuma, Power to Youth Program specialist at Sonke Gender Justice had this to say ‘In our work, the paramount consideration is to ensure that our interventions directly address the most critical needs within our communities. We meticulously assess and prioritise these needs, recognizing that our efforts must have a tangible and immediate impact on the lives of those we serve. By focusing on the most pressing challenges faced by community members, we aim to make a meaningful difference and effect positive change where it is needed most.’’
Co-creation and capacity strengthening within the Power to Youth program was also one of the good practices that was highlighted at the CSW68. “At the heart of our approach is a collaborative process where we engage directly with the community to identify and understand the specific gaps and challenges they face. Through open dialogue and active listening, we work hand in hand with community members to gain insights into their unique needs and circumstances. ‘’ said Dianah Nanyange, Power to Youth Uganda Programme Coordinator.
‘’This participatory approach ensures that we have a comprehensive understanding of the issues at hand, allowing us to develop solutions that are truly responsive to the community’s realities. Once we’ve identified the gaps and challenges, we embark on a journey of co-creation with the community. This means that community members are active partners in the design and implementation of solutions. Together, we leverage local knowledge, resources, and expertise to develop tailored interventions that address the root causes of the issues identified,’’ she adds.
Creating safe spaces for meaningful youth inclusion and participation was discussed as a paramount practice of ensuring that youths contribute to decisions that affect their lives and their communities positively.
‘In Power to Youth Malawi, we prioritise the voices of our youth by establishing safe spaces tailored to their needs within schools. These dedicated youth spaces serve as crucial platforms for engaging young people in shaping their communities and driving positive change. By providing a secure and inclusive environment, we empower youth to actively participate in decision-making processes and take ownership of initiatives aimed at fostering community development. Through these avenues, we ensure that the perspectives and contributions of Malawi’s youth are valued and integrated into our efforts,’’ said Chimwemwe Kayenge, Program Assistant at the Centre for Human Rights and Rehabilitation in Malawi
Focusing on the prioritisation of girls’ education using the Model Gendered Family and Household Framework in orchestrating more equitable communities. Hafsatu Sey Sumani, Head of Programs, Policy, and Campaigns – Norsaac in Ghana shared these insights,
‘In Ghana, our focus on adolescent girls’ education goes beyond conventional approaches. Collaborating with traditional chiefs, we ensure that girls have access to education while prioritising their empowerment. By building the capacity of these leaders, we harness their influence to advocate for gender equality and champion girls’ rights within their communities. Additionally, through the Model Gendered Family Household (MGF) framework, we’re promoting healthy gender norms. Model families serve as examples, illustrating the positive impact of gender equality within households. By showcasing these exemplary families, we catalyse a cultural shift towards more equitable communities, empowering every girl to thrive’’.
Aside from the CSW68, Sonke Gender Justice and Power to Youth partners keep creating and participating in linkage and learning opportunities for sharing of experiences during community interventions and the good practices that are transforming communities, creating safe spaces for meaningful youth inclusion and participation as well as promoting the rights of women and girls.
Sonke in partnership with Global Affairs Canada is currently implementing the Inkanyezi project in the Amathole East District of the Eastern Cape, as well as the Ehlanzeni District of Mpumalanga Provinces. The program seeks to strengthen the ability of women leaders from political, traditional, and religious structures to influence local decision-making processes, especially with respect to laws, policies, and customs relevant to women’s rights, leadership, and gender inequality.
Since its inception, Sonke has hosted workshops and community dialogues for various women and young leaders to expand their knowledge of leadership and governance, as well as provide the tools to actively participate in transforming their communities. We give a summary of the community engagements this project has held since December 2023.
Inkanyezi hosted a feminism training with women leaders in Mpumalanga, to enhance women leaders’ understanding of feminist transformative leadership and politics to enhance their confidence as women leaders in the sector to assume leadership and challenge discriminatory practices.
‘’Women have always led. They lead their families, communities, churches, and traditional settings. This shows women innately have leadership skills which just need to be enhanced to can better apply themselves in governance spaces within their communities, so when bringing women together in such spaces and giving them the tools to partake in leadership positions, you are bound to see change in their communities. ‘’said Rhandzekile Mathebula, Sonke’s Senior Trainer.
One of the participants, Temoso Sekgobela, had this to say ‘’I attended the training with the intention to learn about leadership and implement the knowledge in my role as a leader. I have learned about the tree analysis approach and it has become my go to tool for managing problems in my immediate environment since it makes life more precise and allows one to concentrate more on addressing issues at their core causes. I also learned about the importance of participating in municipal IDP processes for my community needs and challenges to be addressed. I have learned about gender budgeting, and its importance of including women’s needs in the government budget’’.
The project recruited and trained Community Action Team members. CAT members are individuals or members of community-based organisations who volunteer for Sonke Gender Justice and perform designated social justice activities for their communities. CATs promote gender equality, community human rights education, gender-based violence prevention and the reduction of the spread of HIV. They also organise local government and traditional leadership partnerships and advocacy, to achieve gender justice in alignment to Sonke’s values, mission, and internal policies.
The training was to familiarise the recruits with Sonke’s code of conduct and equip them with knowledge about community mobilisation, basic containment, existing referral mechanisms, and action planning procedures.
Innocentia Chauke is one of the recruits ‘’I joined the Inkanyezi project as a CAT member, I’ve since attended many capacity building training, one of which was on feminism, in which I learned about power dynamics and patriarchy. We know that men often want to suppress women, but my takeaway is that women can take that power back and lead’’.
The team has also hosted a joint community dialogue with Chapter 9 institutions in the community of Hluvukani, Bushbuckridge in March 2024. This was to engage the community on gender equality, rights and gender-based violence. The dialogue was due to the community outcry to address GBVF issues, following a femicide case that took place in that community.
At the gathering, the Commission for Gender Equality educated the community about the constitution and their rights. Other stakeholders that presented, shared information about the programmes they offer and how they can be used as pathways to justice. Community members also had the opportunity to identify gaps on addressing gender equality, service provision and how everyone can play a role in addressing gender equality.
‘’ This dialogue reminded the community on how everyone needs to be accountable to addressing gender inequality and violation of human rights. It was also important for us to touch on the National Strategic Plan on Gender Based Violence and Femicide and how each pillar plays a role in issues addressed by the community’’ said Nomalanga Ngwenya, Sonke’s Project Manager.
Another of the events was the family dialogue, which provided a platform for conversations on the role families play in supporting women leaders in communities and to share ideas of how to strengthen family units.
‘’I learned the importance of treating our children equally regardless of their gender. Now I believe that household chores are not meant for a certain gender, everyone can do it. I also learned that for gender based violence to end we should start by educating our children about it at home, schools and in churches. As women we turn to look away when another woman is suffering. What I have now learned is the importance of supporting one another and working together. I recommend that to tackle GBV, it must be taught from grade R to higher grades, government departments must join hands and all of us must help to build a better nation’’ said Elizabeth Mashele, Ward counsellor and participant.
The dialogue was supported by stakeholders from among others, the Civil Society Forum, Independent Electoral Commission, traditional indunas, representatives of ward counsellor and families of women leaders.
‘’We had groups of both women and men for this session. We think for a holistic approach to women’s leadership, gender equality and human rights, more education is needed on gender norms and gender equality in our communities especially for the male counterparts’’. Nomalanga Ngwenya, Sonke’s Project Manager concludes.
Reflections from a Woman leader of the Inkanyezi project in the Amathole East District of the Eastern Cape Province.
By Nonkosinathi Mtayisi, participant of the Inkanyezi project
‘’There was a case of a young woman who suffered severe injuries due to assault and burn wounds after her boyfriend used an electric iron to burn her. The boyfriend was arrested and later released on R500 bail while the woman was hospitalised and fighting for her life in the Intensive Care Unit. The office of the Speaker at Mnquma Municipality directed responsible Ward Councilor and Women’s Caucus leadership to speak with Sonke Gender Justice in relation to the case. Multiple engagements were held as part of case monitoring around Amathole district and that is when I met this powerhouse organisation, Sonke Gender Justice.
As I participated in these various events and engagements, I further learnt practical ways on how case monitoring is done and that it requires someone who is firm and focused as the overall monitoring involves challenging old ways of doing things and challenging patriarchal and violent tendencies that have been normalised for the longest times. The organised individuals, networks, and institutions in support of the case continued to receive awareness raising and informative sessions from the Sonke team.
I commend the team for being kind and gentle as they took us through the different scopes on GBV prevention, reporting processes and case monitoring. I was new in this kind of radical activism space and committed to join hands in the fight against violation and abuse of women in their diversities. Advocacy campaigns continued to challenge the court as the victimizer violated bail conditions on several occasions. A case of a woman beaten and burnt with a hot iron alarmed communities and was shared across social media platforms, because of this, we owed that woman extreme support to demand justice for her. On August 31, 2023, the victimizer was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment by the Butterworth magistrate court because of our effortless involvement.
I was overwhelmed at this time, because I was also assigned a responsibility to lead a gender desk which had to look at protection of human rights regardless of gender. When we saw how the case monitoring is done, it was at a time that I was not confident with myself and attempted to refer another GBV case to Sonke, again they reminded me of their ongoing support and encouraged me and my institution to own this leading role. They supported me with technical expertise, guided me and even made time to brainstorm with me and the team on how to pass through a certain stage. I am proud today to indicate that the case we followed as an institution led to another sentencing of 12 years imprisonment.
My continued determination to fight for safer communities and gender equality with the assistance of Sonke Gender Justice, I will contribute to the reduction of GBV cases. Through my connections with Sonke, I am happy and feel ready to continue investing in my fight against GBV.
Having attended multiple trainings at Sonke, I can now stand up for myself against male leaders who are the perpetrators of these violent behaviours against women and who often intimidate women leaders and continue using patriarchal tendencies that have total disregard of women leader’s existence. I am confident and always keep in mind that being a woman does not mean I am less of a human being.
Sonke gender justice must keep empowering women to bring back their dignity.’’
Sonke Gender Justice’s Community Education and Mobilisation unit hosted an HIV, Human Rights and GBVF workshop from the 11th to the 15th of March in Cape Town. The weeklong meeting brought together participants from various sectors including government, media, traditional leaders, and civil society.
‘’The training forms part of the IMS project, whose goal is to contribute to the realisation of human rights, gender equality and health equity in the response and prevention of Gender Based Violence and Femicide, and the spread of HIV and AIDS, to empower the community to actively participate in addressing social issues that affect them’’ said Sikhangele Mabulu, Sonke’s Western Cape Wellness Centre Coordinator.
One of the ways in which the prevalence of gender-based violence can be addressed is when communities are knowledgeable about their rights and are empowered to act, to hold duty bearers accountable, to create awareness about gender-based violence and demand access to quality GBVF and HIV prevention services.
Participants at the workshop were trained on the role of traditional leaders in the fight against GBV, the localisation of the National Strategic Plan and service delivery deficiencies, transparency and accountability governance challenges, among other topics.
‘’we want to capacitate them to can hold government departments accountable for the implementation of legislative framework and policies aimed at preventing and responding to GBVF and promoting gender equality and social inclusion.’’ Mabulu added.
Another of the topics that were covered is that of the gendered impact of climate change. Women are more vulnerable to the impact of climate change than men, as they make up the majority of the world’s poor and are more dependent on natural resources that are under threat from climate change. During her presentation, University of Hull’s Thandie Hlabana noted that the gendered water crisis threatened the achievement of the UN 2030 sustainable development goals, ”Lack of access to water disproportionately affects women and girls because they are primarily responsible for domestic chores, as women play a central part in the provision, management and safeguarding of water. In 80% of the water deprived households in the developing world, women and girls carry the burden of water collection’’. The meeting concluded with a joint collaboration strategy and action plan from the attendees.
Sonke Gender Justice, Unilever LUX SA and the International Centre for Research on Women collaborated on a campaign to advocate against sexism that women and gender non-conforming persons experience daily.
Everyday Sexism is best described as a gender-based prejudice and discrimination based on one’s sex or gender. It can be levelled at anyone, but world over, it is especially levelled against women, girls, and gender non-conforming persons. The experience of sexist comments, behaviours and treatment are normalised in communities, hence the term everyday sexism.
The campaign targeted men and boys as allies in addressing everyday sexism, becoming active bystanders, and promoting positive social norms of masculinity in public spaces for the freedom and safety of women and girls.
At the beginning of this project, a baseline survey was commissioned in two Johannesburg townships, namely Diepkloof in Soweto and Diepsloot township in the North of Johannesburg.
‘’The results were alarming but not surprising that indeed many men have witnessed everyday sexism, and most of them did nothing about it, whereas more than 90% of the female respondents indicated to have experienced it. We also learned that behaviours such as catcalling, groping and unsolicited attention leave women feeling harassed and objectified.’’ said Dumisani Rebombo, Sonke’s Community Education and Mobilisation provincial manager.
Through its various intervention activities, the campaign challenged years of being socialised to think that catcalling or groping is a way of appreciating a woman’s beauty rather than sexualizing women and violation when not welcomed. It challenged cultural, religious and practices that were central in interceding for certain harmful behaviour. It also managed to open conversations about everyday sexism and a call for individual and community level action to prevent it.
‘’Through activities such as dialogues, community workshops, large events, and panel discussions at Jozi FM radio station, the campaign took men and boys on a journey of understanding the harm everyday sexism causes, including public street harassment. We reached just over 330 people directly, and about 2.1 M people indirectly, using public service announcements and panel discussions on radio. ‘’ he adds.
As was expected, during the community workshops and dialogues, some of the comments from men were demeaning on women, but in each of the conducted activities, the project had progressive thinking men and women in the majority who would quell such ideologies and centralise human rights for all.
In one instance during a workshop in Diepsloot, one of the disgruntled male participants, who did not want to be named shared his views “There you go again, why is it that you paint men always as monsters? Men are also abused by women, and the fact that no one is researching men does not mean that we are not abused…this thing is 50-50!” while another male participant counter argued as follows “The history of us Black men has been full of exclusion and violence on women and children. Yes, some men can be abused, but it is never in comparison with women. Respecting women should not be seen as taking power from me.”
Such engagements helped the campaign to emphasise the active Bystander methodology, as it suggested that a positive window of opportunity is out there, that some men do want to change but they just do not know how.
Sonke intends to include the Everyday Sexism campaign content into the Gender Transformative Approaches and Gender Equality and Social Inclusion work.
To mark International Women’s Day, Sustainable Independent Media Activity hosted a commemorative event in Juba, South Sudan, under the theme “Invest in Women and Accelerate Progress: Utilizing media-tech to amplify inclusion of women and to foster cross-border synergies”.
The event which brought together media practitioners, human rights activists as well as civil society organisations, was led by Sonke Gender Justice in partnership with Female Journalists Network, Association for Media Women in South Sudan, IREX South Sudan, and the USAID.
The gathering saw a panel discussion in which women rights and media organizations in South Sudan discussed how media-technology can be supported and used to amplify women’s civic participation in South Sudan and to strengthen cross-border partnerships between South Sudanese women-led media organizations and their counterparts in other countries.
Each of the participating organisations presented on various topics. Jackline Nasiwa from the Centre for Inclusive Governance, Peace, and Justice presented on the Implications of Gender Inequalities on Women’s Participation in National Decision-making Processes, while MenEngage Africa South Sudan Secretariat’s Stephen Oryema focused on working with Men and boys to amplify women’s voices and equal participation in National issues.
In her reflections South Sudan Democratic Engagement Monitoring and Observation Programme’s Merekaje Lorna Nanija said women in South Sudan have made strides in the political space and urged media to amplify such stories‘’ women in this country have made significant progress in joining high positions such as sovereign ministries, the media should be used to promote such stories about women’s participation, but also create awareness about opportunities that exists for women and create a space in programming to highlight women’s political achievement and showcase their political prowess’’.
The gathering was also an opportunity to reflect on SIMA’s work in South Sudan, highlighting the impacts that had been achieved in the previous year on promoting gender equality and social inclusion for women journalists in the country.
Sustainable Independent Media Activity is a USAID funded project, aimed at improving access to credible, accurate, and reliable information for South Sudanese citizens by promoting the sustainability of high-quality, independent radio operations. This is a program by Civil Society and Media – Strengthened Together and Advancing in New Directions (CSM-STAND) program, implemented by a consortium of global partners co-led by Pact and IREX.
USAID South Sudan’s Director of Office of Democracy and Governance Dareen Manning, spoke about the United States government’s long-standing support for independent media in South Sudan and the importance of media in the country’s gender equality and women empowerment agenda.
‘’Independent media is essential to protect human rights, drive democratic progress and to promote government accountability and transparency. Media has power to influence gender equality and women’s empowerment in South Sudan as well as the ability to drive attention to human rights abuse issues taking place in the country. As such, USAID is committed to the promotion and protection of human rights in South Sudan’’ he concludes.
In commemoration of International Women’s Day 2024, USAID Khutlo in collaboration with the International Human Rights Lab and National university of Lesotho faculty of Law, convened a moot court and debate session in Maseru Lesotho, under the theme Inspire Inclusion. The purpose of which was to interrogate and evaluate the legal and policy scope in Lesotho on issues of gender equality, sexual orientation, gender diversity and sexual and reproductive health.
‘’It was important for us to focus on the theme inspire inclusion so as to interrogate heteropatriarchal bias of the concept of gender which perpetuate discrimination, stigma, inequality and GBV’’, said Dr Mosioua Ramakoele, Sonke’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor.
‘’One of the debate topics was ‘should gender be binary; a consideration for inclusion’, we were intentional in choosing such topics as one of USAID Khutlo Activity’s goal is to reduce stigma, discrimination and GBV against LGBTQI+ communities as well as Cishet women and girls’’ he adds.
The participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to interrogate real life issues that are not part of everyday discourse. They indicated that the issue of sexual orientation and gender diversity has long been shrouded by secrecy and it needs to be a legal and policy agenda item to ensure that there is gender equality and social inclusion.
“The issue of gender diversity is not new in our community as Basotho, however, we have to find culturally sensitive ways to re-engage and situate it rightfully in policy and legal frameworks’’ Says Advocate Lerato Khutlang, Sonke’s Community Mobilizer for Capacity Development.
LLB 3rd year Student Kobasi Tjabaka says taking part in this process was challenging yet rewarding, ‘’I had to argue in favour of the status quo, which often overlooks the rights of marginalized groups such as the LGBTQIA+ Community, but with the help of my team we managed to provide nuanced arguments which led us to victory. Competitions such these are crucial to keep the conversation going with regards to human rights. I hope that in the future these debates can have wider audiences and a bigger impact, to foster more discussions amongst Basotho in furtherance of promoting gender-based rights and inclusivity frameworks in our society.”
Among some of the organisations that supported this event was the Law Society of Lesotho, women and Laws in Southern Africa, Federation of Women Lawyers as well as Girls Guides Association.‘’ A takeaway and reflections from the event was that there is need to advocate for gender legal recognition in Lesotho to ensure that queer people human rights are prompted and protected. ‘’ Dr Mosioua Ramakoele, Sonke’s Gender Equality and Social Inclusion Advisor concluded.
We are delighted to announce our participation in the upcoming Commission on the Status of Women’s Rights(CSW68), focusing on priority theme, ‘Accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective‘, which will take place from March 11 to 22, 2024. Our participation in this event is part of our continued effort to promote gender justice and equality. We recognize that women and girls continue to face a range of challenges, including violence, discrimination, and unequal access to education and other resources.
Through our participation in CSW68, we hope to highlight these issues and advocate for policies and programs that promote gender equality. Our calendar for the event is packed with activities that are designed to engage with stakeholders from different sectors. We will be hosting parallel events, discussions and other events that will explore different aspects of gender justice. Some of the topics that we will be exploring include gender-based violence, women’s economic empowerment, and the role of men and boys in promoting gender equality.
We invite everyone to join us at CSW68 and be part of many important conversations.
A distinguished panel of faith leaders will address and unpack the priority theme at this 68th session of the CSW. Speakers will explore the themes of ending poverty, the impacts of financing for women’s projects and financing from a gender perspective as well as the role of women as leaders in the strengthening of global institutions.
Date: 9 March 2024
Venue: Tillman Chapel, CCU UN – 777 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017 (44th street and 1st avenue)
Commonwealth at the margins of UN CSW68: Commonwealth Women’s Forum Run-up Event 1 ‘Women’s Economic Empowerment – Key Component for Development’
The Commonwealth Secretariat is convening the first stepping-stone event to feed into the upcoming Commonwealth Women’s Forum to be held in Samoa in October 2024. This hybrid event seeks to consult Commonwealth member governments and women’s rights groups on ways to empower women in the economy as a means towards achieving sustainable development and resilient societies and economies.
Date: 10 March 2024
Venue: Commonwealth Joint Office, 685 Third Avenue (between 43rd & 44th Streets), New York
Parental leave and beyond: car policies and informally employed workers
This event will highlight the viability and implications of care focused policies for formally and informally employed working parents in low- and middle-income countries. Influenced by the advocacy of organizations like Sonke Gender Justice and RWAMREC, South Africa and Rwanda have recently improved parental leave policies. Many workers in Africa are however employed in the informal economy. The State of the World’s Fathers report 2023 provides insights about parents, care and care policies across varied economies in 16 countries, and global findings from the WORLD Policy Center highlights nuances of providing parental leave to workers in informal employment.
Accelerating gender equality in fragile settings: a focus on women and girls
The challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and climate crisis have exacerbated humanitarian emergencies, disproportionately affecting women and girls. From job losses to increased vulnerability to violence, women in fragile settings bear a disproportionate burden. Our event aims to address these challenges comprehensively, prioritizing women’s empowerment, access to essential services, and community resilience.
Empowering local leaders for gender-inclusive education initiatives in Malawi & Uganda
Learn how local leaders in Malawi and Uganda are advancing gender equality in education through transformative initiatives. Explore successful strategies and community-led approaches.
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